Security structure for a coin meter



Jan. 10, 1967 M R. HUTCHINS SECURITY STRUCTURE FOR A COIN METER FiledJune 30, 1965 INVENTOR.

MAR LY N R HUTCHINS A TTORNEVS United States Patent G1 ice 3,297,123SECURITY STRUCTURE FOR A COIN METER Marlyn R. Hutchins, Spring LakePark, Minn, assignor to Andrew P. Simon, doing business as PakDistributing (30., Spring Lake Park, Minn.

Filed June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,545 7 Claims. (Cl. 194-97) Thisinvention relates to protective shield means for coin storage containersand more particularly to security structure in combination with thehousing of a coin operated meter for protecting the coins stored in thevault section of the meter.

Coin operated meters are widely used with self-service machines aslaundry washers and dryers, car washers, amusement and vending machinesand other electrically operated devices. The character of the marketlocations of these machines vary widely from conservative safe locationsto tough problem locations where abnormal theft conditions prevail. Inthe problem locations a profitable business cannot be attained becauseof excess vandalism.

The design of a conventional coin operated meter is not particularlysuitable to prevent theft of the coins stored in the meter. Theconventional coin operated meter is relatively easy to pry open withsimple hand tools, as the meter housing has openings and edges suitablefor bearing surfaces and fulcrum points for the hand tools. The securitystructure for a coin operated meter of this invention obviates thesedisadvantages of the conventional coin operated meter.

The object of the invention is to provide improved security structurefor a coin operated meter which eliminates openings and exposed edges toestablish maximum protection for the coin chute and money box.

Another object of the invention is to provide security structure incombination with the housing of a coin operated meter which has a safeand attractive appearance and does not interfere with the use andoperation of the coin slide.

Still another object of the invention is to provide security structurefor a coin operated meter which permits easy access to the coin box yetprovides maximum security for the coin box.

A further object of the invention is to provide security structureusable in combination with coin operated meters having different sizesand shapes.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide securitystructures for coin operated meters which can readily be installed inthe field on operating meters with a n1inimum of time and labor.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a relatively simpleand sturdy security structure for a coin operated meter which is strongin construction, reliable in use, and pleasing in appearance.

The exact nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will be readily apparent from the consideration ofthe following specification relating to the accompanying drawing inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automatic laundrymachinehaving a coin operated meter equipped with the security structureof this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the meter and security structureof FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 ofFIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIGURE 1 3,297,123 PatentedJan. 10, 1967 an automatic machine indicated generally at 10 equippedwith a coin operated meter 11. The machine 10 is an automatic unit suchas a laundry washer, laundry dryer, car washer, amusement device,vending machine and similar electrically operated devices. The coinoperated meter 11 has a timing mechanism which is actuated in responseto monetary coins for controlling the operation of the machine. Themachine 10 together with the meter 11 are normally used by the public ona self-service basis with a minimum of supervision. This exposes thecoins stored in the meter to vandals and thieves. To minimize the theftof the coins stored in the meter security structure indicated generallyat 12 is attached to the meter to eliminate openings and edges used asbearing surfaces and fulcrum points for hand tools of vandals andthieves.

The machine 10, shown in fragmentary form in FIG- URE 1, has a flat topwall 13 integral with an upright side wall 14 The coin operated meter 11is rigidly mounted on the top wall 1-3 flush with the side wall 14. Insome instances the coin operated meter may be mounted on the side wall14 or the front wall (not shown) of the machine.

The coin operated meter 11 has a box-shaped metal housing 16 enclosing acoin actuated timer mechanism and defining a coin vault. The housing 16comprises a flat top wall 17 integral with laterally spaced side walls18 and 19. As shown in FIGURE 3, a front. wall 21 having a peripheralforwardly projected flange 22 is secured by spot welds to the forwardend sections of the top wall 17 and the side walls 18 and 19. Theforward edge of the peripheral flange 22 is flush with the ends of thewalls 17, 18 and 19 positioning the front wall. 21 rearwardly or behindthe ends of the side walls 18 and 19'.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the front wall 21 has a rectangular opening23 accommodating a coin box 24 located in the vault section of thehousing defined by a horizontal petition 26 and a vertical petition 27.A lock mechanism 28 attached to the center portion of the front wall 29of the coin box 24 is used to lock the coin box to the vertical petition27. The coin box 24 has an open top for receiving coins from. a coinchute 31 projected through and secured to the front wall 21 above theopen ing 23. The coin chute 31 includes a. coin transporting slide 32having coin receiving openings 33 used to align the coins in the coinchute so that the coins can be moved into the housing 16 and stored inthe coin box 24 after actuation of the timer mechanism of the meter.

The security structure 12 is used in combination with the housing 16 toprovide maximum protection for the coins stored in the vault section ofthe meter 11. As shown in FIGURE 1, the security structure 12 comprisesa heavy inverted U-shaped strap indicated generally at 34 having uprightfiat legs 36 and 37 disposed adjacent the opposite sides of the housingside walls 18 and 19. The flat leg 36 projects below the bottom of thehousing 16 so as to cover the linear opening between the bottom of thehousing 16 and the machine top wall 13. The bottom end of leg 37 restson the top wall 13. As shown in FIGURE 3, legs 36 and 37 projectforwardly from the front of the housing 16 to form protective sideextensions on opposite sides of the coin box 34. The forward extensionof the fiat legs 36 and 37 is indicated by distance 38. The invertedU-shaped strap 34 has a flat top wall 39 integral with the top edges ofthe upright legs 36 and 37 covering the forward portion of the top ofthe housing 16. As shown in FIGURE 2, the front section of the top wall39 has a cutout forming semicircular wall 41 providing access to thecoin receiving openings. The opposite ends 42 of the semicircular wall41 are rounded to eliminate sharp and abrupt edges.

The inverted U-shaped strap 34 is secured to the side Walls 18 and 19 bybolt and nut assemblies 4-3, projected inwardly through suitable holesin the fiat legs 36 and 37 and housing side walls 18 and 19. Thedetailed use of one bolt and nut assembly 4 3 is shown in FIGURE 5 andcomprises a bolt 44 having a semispherical head 46. The bolt 44 projectsthrough a hole 47 in the strap leg 36 and through a hole in the housingside wall 18 into the value chamber. The head 46 is located in acountersunk recess 4 8 having a diameter substantially equal to thediameter of the head so as to minimize the exposed edges between thehead and the outer face of the flat leg 36. A nut 49 is threaded on theinner end of the bolt 44. and cooperates with the 'bolt 44 to firmlyclamp the leg 36 to the housing side wall 18.

To further prevent the prying and dislocation of the coin box 24 a heavyflat plate 51 is secured by bolt and nut assemblies 52 to the outside ofthe box front wall 29. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the plate 51 has awidth and height larger than the opening 23 in the housing front walloverlapping the side, top and bottom portions of front wall 21 formingthe rectangular coin box opening 23. The plate 21 has a widthsubstantially equal to the transverse distance between opposite sectionsof the peripheral flange 22 and a bottom edge positioned in a contiguousrelationshi with respect to the machine top wall 13 as as to minimizeopenings and edges suitable for bearing surfaces and fulcrum points forhand tools used by vandals and thieves. The nut and bolt assemblies 52are mounted in the same manner as the nut and bolt assembly 43 in FIGURE5 so as to prevent access between the bolt heads and the outer face ofthe plate 51.

In summary, the security structure 12 is used in combination with theblock shaped housing 16 of the coin operated meter 11 to eliminateaccess openings and exposed edges usable by hand tools to pry open thecoin chute 31 and/or coin box 24. The security structure 12 includes aninverted U-shaped strap 34 projected forwardly from the front of thebox. The strap 34 embraces the top and sides of the meter housing 16 toact as a shield and armor enclosing the coin vault of the meter. The topwall 39 of the strap has a semicircular edge 41 providing an accessopening to the coin receiving openings 33 of the coin transporting slide32 and thus does not inhibit the use or operation of the coin slide. Thefront of the coin box 24 is reinforced with a heavy plate 51 having aperipheral section overlapping the front wall 21 of the housing;

While there have been shown, described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, itis to be understood that various omissions, substitutions, changes inshape and details of the security structure illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. It is intended to limit the invention only as indicated bythe scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a coin operated meter included a housing having spacedside walls, a top wall and a front wall, a coin box releasably locked toa portion of the housing and slidably through an opening in the frontwall, coin transporting slide means mounted on said front wall abovesaid coin box for carrying coins from a position outside said front wallinto said coin box, a heavy inverted U-shaped strap member positionedabout said housing, said strap member having flat legs positionedadjacent the outside of the spaced side walls and a flat top wallsecured to the upper ends of the legs positioned over the housing topwall, said legs and top wall of the i strap member projected forwardlyfrom the front wall and ends of the side walls forming a protectiveextension for the coin box and slide means, and fastening means forsecuring the legs to the housing side Walls.

housing front wall so as to overlap the side, top and bottom portions ofthe front wall defining the coin box opening.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein one leg of the U-shapedstrap member is longer than the other leg.

5. In combination, a coin operated rneter including a housing having afront wall and side walls, a coin box releasably locked to a portion ofthe housing and slidably through an opening in the front wall, cointransporting slide means mounted on said front wall above said coin boxfor carrying coins from a position outside said front wall into saidcoin box, a heavy inverted U-shaped strap member extended over saidhousing, means securing the strap member to the housing, said U-shapedmember having flat legs projected forwardly from the plane of said frontwall beyond the ends of the side walls and a top section having asemicircular cutout above said slide means permitting access thereto andplate means secured to the front of the coin box, said plate means beinglarger than the coin box opening in the front wall.

'6. In combination, a coin operated met-er includling a housing having afront wall and side walls, a coin box releasably locked to a portion ofthe housing and slidably through an opening in the front wall, cointransporting slide means mounted on said front wall above said coin boxfor carrying coins from a position outside said front wall into saidcoin box, a heavy inverted U-shap-ed strap member extended over saidhousing and means securing the strap member to the housing, saidU-shaped member having legs projected forwardly from the plane of saidfront wall beyond the ends of the side walls and a top section having acutout above said slide means permitting access thereto.

7. In combination a coin operated meter including a housing havingspaced side walls, a top wall and a front wall, a coin box releasablylocked to a portion of the housing and slidably through an opening inthe front wall, coin transporting slide means mounted on said front wallabove said coin box for carrying coins from a position outside saidfront wall into said coin box, a heavy inverted U-shaped memberpositioned about said housing, said member having legs positionedadjacent the outside of the spaced side walls and a top Wall secured tothe upper ends of the legs positioned transversely of the housing toform a protective shield for the coin box, said legs and top wall of themember projected forwardly from the ends of the side walls and top wallof the housing and fastening means for securing the member to thehousing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,673,133 3/1954Koch 194-93 X 2,961,081 11/1960 Sloyer et a1. 1942 3,046,803 7/1962Bowman 194--l X 3,088,629 5/1963 Seymour l94-2 X ROBERT B. REEVES,Primary Examiner.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, M. HENSON WOOD, 1a.,

Examiners.

1. IN COMBINATION A COIN OPERATED METER INCLUDED A HOUSING HAVING SPACEDSIDE WALLS, A TOP WALL AND A FRONT WALL, A COIN BOX RELEASABLY LOCKED TOA PORTION OF THE HOUSING AND SLIDABLY THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE FRONTWALL, COIN TRANSPORTING SLIDE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRONT WALL ABOVESAID COIN BOX FOR CARRYING COINS FROM A POSITION OUTSIDE SAID FRONT WALLINTO SAID COIN BOX, A HEAVY INVERTED U-SHAPED STRAP MEMBER POSITIONEDABOUT SAID HOUSING, SAID STRAP MEMBER HAVING FLAT LEGS POSITIONEDADJACENT THE OUTSIDE OF THE SPACED SIDE WALLS AND A FLAT TOP WALLSECURED TO THE UPPER ENDS OF THE LEGS POSITIONED OVER THE HOUSING TOPWALL, SAID LEGS AND TOP WALL OF THE STRAP MEMBER PROJECTED FORWARDLYFROM THE FRONT WALL AND ENDS OF THE SIDE WALLS FORMING A PROTECTIVEEXTENSION FOR THE COIN BOX AND SLIDE MEANS, AND FASTENING MEANS FORSECURING THE LEGS TO THE HOUSING SIDE WALLS.